Food ain’t cheap these days! Prices are just going up and up. Expenses on groceries are a basic need for every family. Thus, finding ways to save money on it, is reasonable thinking.
What can you do to save some bucks the next time you go grocery shopping? This is probably what every housewife, mom, or whoever shops in your house thinks about.
In Canada, the average yearly expenditure of a family on food last year was $16,288 as per the “Canadian Food Price Report”. This price has gone up around $1000 since last year.
The figures must be shocking but do not worry because we are here with some amazing money-saving tips on Groceries that are surely going to help you. Let’s get started.
10 Tips to Save Money on Groceries in Canada
Here are 10 tips to save money on Groceries in Canada.
1. Make a Grocery or Shopping List
Without knowing what to buy, you will just walk and explore everything. It can make you buy anything that looks appealing on the aisle. But if you have a “Grocery List”, you will know which section to visit and what to buy.
Moreover, making a list beforehand is a powerful planning tool that will save the chaos later. You definitely don’t want to go again because you forgot a packet of sugar. It will cost you gas money as well.
2. Try to Get Maximum Cashback
Nowadays, several trendy cashback apps can be used for grocery purchases. In addition to these apps, credit cards and debit cards also offer cashback.
The main reason to check such offers is because they keep on changing every week. You never know what you might get. In fact, using these apps is also easy.
All you gotta do is make payment through it. The cashback will be credited and you can redeem it anytime you want.
3. Define a Budget to Save Money
To avoid overspending you must decide on a budget for food items. In order to do so, the best option is to make weekly or monthly budgets. One way is to make an old-school pen-paper budget using a calculator.
Another option is to use an app that can be linked to your bank. It will automatically track how much you are spending and send alerts if you are going on.
4. Buy in More Quantities
You cannot buy immediate consumption items in bulk. But toiletries and household supplies can be. So, the next time you see a sale. Try to buy these essentials in bulk. Most of the time you will find some quantity discounts on such things.
Don’t you think it will be great to get 50% off on bulk purchases? Many people use chest freezers to store non-veg products for a longer time. It means you can buy certain food items in big lots too.
5. Rethink About Healthy Options
Are you buying organic because it is labeled so? Or are you genuinely concerned about the preservatives and chemicals in food? Often we find ourselves attracted to items whose labels have “organic” written on them.
Be smart and know the difference between products that are actually organic and those that are just for namesake. Not only are they costly, but have zero additional benefits. Instead try visiting farms and buy directly from them.
6. Get Seasonal Produce
One simple way to save tons of money on groceries is to buy fresh seasonal produce. Usually during the peak season fruits, vegetables, and herbs are much cheaper. You can use them however you like.
Chopping them, cutting them, making juices & smoothies, and even freezing them for later on is a doable option. The same produce in off-seasons is way expensive.
7. Buy Generic & Save Money
Some non-branded food products are equally good in quality. They are so good that you won’t find any major differences. When you check the prices, they will have a significantly lower price than branded ones.
Thus, the next time you go shopping for groceries, check out some generic stuff and try to buy that instead of going for all premium labels.
8. Refrain from Packaged Stuff
Packaged stuff is way more expensive than fresh products. Usually, frozen food and pre-packaged items contain preservatives and chemicals that make it costlier. On the other hand fruits, veggies, meat, and grains that are fresh are cheaper.
Also, packaged and canned food is not as tasty as fresh food. Therefore, not buying such food products gives you two benefits at the same time i.e. taste and saving money.
9. Stock when a Sale is Going
Non-perishable items like bathroom supplies, cleaning supplies, and certain pantry products can be stocked up when there is a sale going on. These sales offer heavy discounts and can be a big budget-friendly way to step up the game of financial freedom.
In addition to saving money, it will also save you from making round trips to the grocery store again and again.
10. Always Use a Calculator
Every supermarket, convenience store, and retail store has mastered the craft of promotions and marketing. So, when you see a board with a “10% discount”, please be cautious. There might be an asterisk sign specifying the conditions to avail of the said offer.
Most of the time people end up paying more money rather than saving. Instead of becoming a fool, open your calculator and calculate the price before paying straightaway.
Save Money on Groceries: Is it the Right Thing to Do?
In Canada, it is a very simple task to save money on Groceries and food items. Some of the above tips can be easily added to your shopping routine the next time you go.
Along with it, you can do some research on how to shop rationally. You won’t even believe it, but making such minor changes in your grocery shopping will help save up to $2000 a year.
Obviously, groceries aren’t the only option. But it is a simple one to start with.
What are some other ways in which you save money? Comment down below.